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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

MIRACULOUS MAY Part I

A few weeks ago I felt really stressed as I tried to figure out all the logistics of Nami's out-of-state brain surgery. I had been working for months to put everything together for this surgery and was feeling extremely nervous about the cost. I had researched many organizations and was doing all I could to get the surgery without having to lose our house. Of course we'd lose it if we needed to, but I was going to try every last charity, government organization, etc. in order to help our son. Although it was against everything that felt comfortable for me, in addition to all the other resources I was looking into I decided to ask for help from my coworkers. I sent the following email:Dear Colleagues,I’m a keep-to-myself kind of girl, but these past few years
have pushed me to do things I never thought I’d do; one of those being to open
up and ask for help. So, although this is a difficult thing for me to do, I am
asking for your help.For those of you who don’t know, my 4 year old son was born
with a condition called tuberous sclerosis. This causes tumors to grow on his
vital body organs. He has hundreds of brain tumors, heart tumors, kidney tumors
and cysts and eye tumors. He is autistic and has uncontrollable epilepsy. Our
biggest concern of the moment is his seizures. He has been to the emergency
room multiple times and life-flighted twice when he stopped breathing and had
to be intubated. During this school year he’s had over 100 seizures on most
days. Somedays he has upwards of 300 despite being on up to 5 anti-epileptic
medicines. We have completed extensive testing in Utah for brain surgery to
help, but his case is so complex that even the best doctors here don’t feel
comfortable with doing it. We have found one of the top epileptologists and top
brain surgeons for his condition who will be operating on him in NY. We will have
to live there for at least one month to get this done.Obviously the cost of all of this will be a lot. Our
insurance will cover some of the expenses, but we be left with a lot of
expenses still. I tried to think of something easy for people, so here it is: I
know there are a lot of soda drinkers out there (me being one), and I was
wondering if you could smash your used cans and drop them off in my room.
I welcome them from your homes, your friends’ homes, etc. I will then recycle
them and use the money to help pay for my son’s expenses. I appreciate all your
support.

I sent this email with the hope of being able to raise enough money to buy a plane ticket for my husband by collecting cans for the remaining month of school. I never could have predicted what happened next...Initially I started receiving anonymous donations. I was extremely uncomfortable, although very grateful, for the generosity of these people. Our principal asked for permission to talk to the student council and I received a couple of emails from teachers asking for permission to try a do some fundraising for Nami. At some point the newspaper adviser took the information to her newspaper staff who got busy and things seemed to explode. There is no way to name all the people that helped because there were so many, but here is some of what resulted:

It all started with a kickoff at lunch with a lot of fun
entertainment, the halls were filled with posters and flyers for the
many events to come.

Teachers and students then formed rivalries and competed in Penny
Wars which resulted in many students donating hard-earned and saved
money, bringing money from home, teachers donating and teachers
committing to all sorts of punishments if their classes lost. The
smack-talk between the front office and counseling office livened up the
last weeks of school.

Clubs and groups put on a "Carnival for a Cause"

Many organizations added a tribute to Nami as part of their final performances including a Miracle Minute by the Dance Team, a Dancing with the Teachers Competition by the Ballroom Team, A Benefit Choir Concert and a Jazz Improvisation performance by the Jazz Band.

There was an all-night volleyball tournament,

a movie night at a local movie theater where at least 2 movies were sold out,

and a month-long fund-raiser at a local frozen yogurt place.

Faculty and community members did lunch-time story-telling, made and sold sugar cookies to the faculty, donated baskets, beautiful hand-made quilts, and a personal training session to be auctioned off.

This year, the annual Pigstock concert at the school was done in Nami's name.

A co-worker is selling his adorable e-book as part of the fundraising. (Book on Amazon)

Word spread to many through texts and so many from the community joined in with donations: from local businesses to countless individuals, from those who have no money to give to a 4-year-old girl who gave Nami her shiniest penny. I cannot express my gratitude to the person who anonymously donated an extremely generous $5000 match.

And, of course, the CANS! There were loads and loads of cans that the principal ended up driving daily to be recycled. People were coming from all over to bring them in. Students even spent time gathering
cans from garbage cans in parks…WOW!

I still can't believe this all happened.Things like this don't happen in MY life. It truly is miraculous!

9 comments:

Annaka, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of the marvelous PGHS community since your tender request for help. Seeing what has come from that simple, humble question has reminded me again and again that we are all God's children and as we help and serve one another--in whatever way we can--our Father's family is blessed. Thank you for sharing the story from your point of view. I'm so proud of our kids and faculty and staff at PGHS. And I wish Nami and your whole family much luck with his surgery. Prayers continue for him and all who love him. Thanks, again! (PGHS PTSA) Shauna DeBuck

Thanks Shauna! I am proud of the kids too...they are truly amazing. We appreciate your prayers and support. I still remember two school years ago getting an amazing birthday basket from you. Not many knew of our struggles at that time and the time and effort you took to make that basket special really meant a lot to me. Take care!

Isn't it amazing all of the things that this little boy is helping you learn about yourself, the lord, the goodness of others...I really do love to hear your experiences, it helps me to have faith in others when sometimes I wonder if there is still good in the world, ya know? Try to sit back, relax, and enjoy all of this love, service, and kindness. You deserve it!!

We are all connected. When one of us stumbles, the rest of us will pick them up, and help them on. We must. You have stumbled Mrs. Vimahi. Not through any fault of your own, but over a stone placed there by God. You will regain your balance, you will learn, and grow. And until you do regain your balance, we will be here to make sure you don't fall. No snowflake falls in the wrong place. Whatever happens is part of God's plan. Trust in God, and Trust in your fellow men, and everything will turn out Okay. Hallelujah indeed.~~A Loving Friend, and Caring Student

I have just spent the last couple of hours reading your blog and sobbing. I had NO idea all you have gone through with your son, and I feel so guilty for not knowing. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences in such an open and honest way. I have learned so much and have been so inspired by you. I am more resolved to get outside of myself and love and serve others more fully.

No worries Krystal! Please don't feel guilty. None of us know exactly what anyone else is going through. Thanks so much for reading and for commenting. It means a lot! Hopefully we'll see you guys sometime soon. =)

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About Me

I’ve finally decided to put it out there…cathartic for me and possibly helpful to someone else. I have often felt the urge to share our stories but feared being vulnerable. The experiences I share in my blog have had a profound effect on my life and made me who I am today. Even though I never thought I would write a blog (my writing skills are not that great, I use too many of these “!” and these “…”), I feel compelled to try, even if it is only useful to me and possibly my family.